Nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) discharges from wastewater lead to water quality degradation (74 % of the total French territory in 2006). According to the actual situation, the French government has adopted a Water Framework on December 30, 2006 to achieve a“good ecological status of water” in 2015. Therefore,more stringent standards on nutrients removal for raw wastewater treatment plants are expected (down to 15mg TN.L-1 and 2 mg TP.L-1). However, standards actually remain under the responsibility of departmental authorities according to the water quality of the receiving environment. Since 1990s, Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands(VFCWs) have been more and more popular in treating raw domestic wastewater for small collectivities of less than 2000 person equivalent (> 2500 units in 2012). However, nitrogen and phosphorus removal are limited in VFCWs (70-80 mg TN.L-1; > 10 mg TP.L-1) according to the new legislation. The aim of this work was on the one hand to implement a recirculation of treated effluent on a VFCW for better nitrogen removal and on the other to use reactive materials to improve phosphorus removal. The experimental scientific approach consisted in monitoring both laboratory and field pilot scale systems under process conditions during 2 years. Treatment and hydraulic performances were monitored over time. Two VFCWs (2,5 m²) filled with expanded schist (Mayennite®) were fed with raw domestic wastewater. The effect of a saturated layer and of the recirculation of treated effluent were studied. Results showed that 38 % of a saturated layer and 100 % of recirculation enabled to improve nitrogen treatment performances (< 20 mgTKN.L-1; < 45 mg TN.L-1) and to meet the French standard D4. Electric arc furnace slags were selected as reactive materials to improve phosphorus treatment performance of the VFCWs in laboratory and field pilot scale systems. Five laboratory-scale column experiments (6L) were fed with a phosphorus synthetic effluent then with a secondary effluent. Four horizontal subsurface flow active filters (0,3 m²; 34 L) were fed with a secondary effluent. The main results showed : (i)differences exist between laboratory and pilot scale regarding treatment performance ( 15°C) and/or hydraulic retention time (more than 2 days) improved the kinetics of phosphorus removal at pilot scale, (iii) the active filter implementing is limited by the discharge standard required (> 3 mg PTOT.L-1) and the distance to the steel factory (transport costs).
